Calcium ion release from calcium hydroxide stimulated fibronectin gene expression in dental pulp cells and the differentiation of dental pulp cells to mineralized tissue forming cells by fibronectin

AIM: The effect of calcium ions on dental pulp cells was examined and the mechanism of dentine bridge formation by calcium hydroxide was investigated. METHODOLOGY: Human dental pulp cells were treated with high concentration of calcium or magnesium ions for 24 h and fibronectin gene expression was measured by the quantitative PCR method. Human dental pulp cells were then cultured on fibronecin-coated dishes for 24 h, and osteocalcin and osteopontin gene expression, which are typical phenotypes of mineralized tissue forming cells, were measured by the quantitative PCR method. RESULTS: Fibronectin gene expression was stimulated by calcium ions dose-dependently. On the other hand, magnesium ions did not influence fibronectin gene expression. Furthermore, pulp cells cultured on fibronectin-coated dishes enhanced the expression of phenotypes of mineralized tissue forming cells. CONCLUSIONS: Calcium ions released from calcium hydroxide stimulates fibronectin synthesis in dental pulp cells. Fibronectin might induce the differentiation of dental pulp cells to mineralized tissue forming cells that are the main cells to form dentine bridges, via contact with cells.